Natural matrix containing bioeffectors to coat seeds for plant protection

TO-239 • PT 1.3062 • As of 06/2026
Institute of Bio- and Geosciences
Biotechnology (IBG-1)
Plant Sciences (IBG-2)

Technology

The presented technology is a matrix containing a matrix-building agent and a bioeffector, where the matrix serves as carrier material for the bioeffector. The matrix acts as a physical barrier and/or keeps the bioeffector close to the target due to chemical interactions, so it can be used to coat a target organism in order to enrich bioeffectors at the target. Bioeffectors are different active ingredients e.g. with antimicrobial properties or utilized to support growth, nutrient uptake or resilience of living organisms. Therefore, they are known i.a. as crop protection agents, plant strengtheners, growth supporting agents, wound dressings, entero-intestinal gels or aerosol sprays.

Problem addressed

Current methods for treating bacterial pathogens have in common that they are non-selective, meaning that they target more than one species and therefore also kill useful and desired bacteria. Moreover, non-selective methods act as evolutionary pressure leading to the formation of multiresistent bacteria (“superbugs”) causing even more ecological problems.

In agriculture for instance the current non-specific protection methods also kill commensal bacteria that are useful for the plants, which can lead to negative alteration of the microbiome and the local environment.

Thus, when applying bioeffectors it is not only important to use ones with high target specificity, but also ensuring a close proximity of the bioeffectors to their target organisms and that the mechanisms come into effect at the correct time point.

Solution

Bacteriophages are an alternative method to target only one specific host species (Erdrich et al. 2022, Hampton et al. 2020 und Holtappels et al. 2021), as such they have great potential to fight pathogenic bacteria. They can replicate themselves and reproduce when attached to a host species and inject their genetic material into the cell.

The presented technology allows using bacteriophages as bioeffectors in a matrix coating the seed. For plant protection purposes, the matrix is produced by plant seeds themselves, coats the seeds and can be used to apply the bacteriophages exactly where they are needed, thus leading to specific targeting and maximum effect, which is a great advantage of the technology.

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Furthermore, the coated seeds can be stored for several weeks, so that the bacteriophages can act during the germination and growth phase of the plant.

Benefits and Potential Use

The new technology can be used for applying bioeffectors within a matrix to target species, where bioeffectors can be active ingredients with antimicrobial properties such as bacteriophages. Therefore, different application possibilities arise. In agriculture a matrix with bacteriophages coating the seeds can be used for plant protection, whereas in medicine/pharma bacteriophages can be used to kill gastrointestinal pathogens, to target pathogens at mucosal surfaces or to use different bioeffectors in medical dressings

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Development Status and Next Steps

The system has been proven on a lab scale with different seed types. For smaller applications such as greenhouses the amounts that can be produced are adequate for partners to test this without (much) further development.

To enable wider applications ranges, further experiments with partners are needed.

TRL

6

Keywords

Matrix, bacteriophages, antimicrobial, plant protection, bioeffectors, seeds, coating

Sectors

Biotechnology

Agriculture

Pharma